Noel Gallagher talked about the prevalence of knives and the "scumbags taking over our streets" before picking up a lifetime achievement award today.

The rocker was receiving a gong honouring Oasis's contribution to music at the Silver Clef Awards in London.

Gallagher also found time to praise controversial Glastonbury headline act Jay-Z: "For the record, I like Jay-Z so that's my opinion, everybody."

The Oasis star was asked about knives taking over the streets and replied: "It's horrible. It's horrible.

"The scumbags are taking over the streets you know. I don't even know what Cameron and Gordon Brown are going to do about it."

He continued: "It all goes back to the Thatcher years. It's a cliche to say it but that's where the rot set in."